The S2R-660 Archangel Border Patrol Aircraft (BPA) is a light attack and surveillance aircraft designed and produced by the US-based aircraft manufacturer IOMAX. In its latest effort to evolve the Border Patrol Aircraft concept, IOMAX has partnered with Thrush Aircraft to jointly produce the Archangel, a sophisticated, production, S2R 660 Thrush purpose-built aircraft. This aircraft is manufactured off the manufacturing line to perform day/night ISR utilizing the 660 Thrush frame as its host. The Archangel is capable of providing real time intelligence data from altitudes as high as 20,000+ ft, delivering precision air strikes with minimum collateral damage. The IOMAX Archangel Block 3 Border Patrol Aircraft was unveiled during Paris Air Show 2013 and performed its maiden flight in July 2014.

The Archangel is the latest version of IOMAX's Block 1 and Block 2 AT-802 turboprop that is currently fielded by the UAE and Jordan. In October 2014, the UAE has signed a contract to procure "an enhanced squadron" of IOMAX Archangel Border Patrol Aircraft (BPA). UAE's fleet will now be replaced by 24 Archangel aircraft. IOMAX has offered its Archangel Block 3 Border Patrol Aircraft (BPA) to Turkey, and to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) as a replacement for its ageing Rockwell OV-10 Bronco counterinsurgency fleet. IOMAX has also received interest from countries such as Angola, Niger, and the Ivory Coast, among others.

The Archangel border patrol aircraft is based on the Thrush Aircraft’s S2R-660 (710) airframe. It features a large wing area and a fixed, reinforced landing gear, which facilitates safe take-off and landing on unimproved, dirt, grass and gravel surfaces. The airplane has a length of 11m and a wing span of 17.4m. It can carry 2,177kg of payloads externally, and has day and night operational capability. A crew of two are accommodated on the airplane in a dual control, tandem seat configuration to render increased visibility. As well as being blended to the fuselage, the Archangel's tandem twin-cockpit has been moved forward and slightly stretched to increase the view forward and down for the pilot and the space available for the rear crew-member.

Propulsion

The Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67F engine (1,796 eshp and 1,700 shp) powers the MTV-27 MT Propeller 5-Blade propeller allowing for shorter take-off distances, reduced audible signature, increased rate of climb and cruise speed, and overall smoother operations. In addition to increasing the aircraft's speed, its range and endurance have been significantly improved by converting the 'hopper' space in the nose (used for carrying crop spraying chemicals in the agricultural airframe) into a main fuel tank that can hold 338 US gallons. In addition to the two 184 US gallon tanks in the wings, this extra fuel takes the Archangel's range out to 1,350 n miles (with stores), compared to approximately 450 n miles for the baseline S2R-660 (clean) platform.

Avionics

The IOMAX Archangel Border Patrol Aircraft is fitted with front and rear night vision compatible (NVG) glass cockpits equipped with CMC's Esterline Cockpit 4000 avionics suite. Three 5in x 7in multi-function displays (MFD) and one up front control panel (UFCP) are provided in the front cockpit whereas the rear cockpit is fitted with one 5in x 7in MFD and one UFCP.

Other several systems are also available in option such as Head Up Display (HUD), and Hands On Throttle And Stick (HOTAS).

Mission capabilities

The Archangel aircraft can be armed with a variety of air-to-ground missiles and bombs including 12 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, 10 250lb GBU-58 Mk-81s and six GBU-12 Mk-82 laser-guided bombs, 24 Roketsan Cirit laser-guided missiles, and up to 12 UMTAS AGM laser-guided missiles.

The six hardpoints, three under each wing, are provided to carry the weapons. The AGM-114 Hellfire missiles can be mounted in the IOMAX Dual Rail Launcher, while the Cirit rockets are stored in a quad pack launcher. The IOMAX Dual Ejector Rack is equipped to carry GBU-58 Mk-81 and GBU-12 Mk-82 laser-guided bombs.

The aircraft also features one centreline hardpoint under the fuselage for mounting additional munitions or reconnaissance / strike / data link pod.

Archangel also features communication and navigation radios, UHF / VHF /F M and SATCOM communications, transponders, line of sight video downlinks, TERMA AN/ALQ-213 missile warning system, and an optional Selex SEER radar warning system. An IOMAX armament control system is installed to control the weapons.